Orthopedic appliance



Feb. 23, 1943. -w. J. Boos ORTHOPEDIC APPLANCE Filed Aug. 3, 1940Patented Feb. 23, 1943 ORTHOPEDIO APPLIANCE Wilfred J. Boos, St. Louis,Mo., assignor to Walk- Easy Foot Rest Manufacturing Company, St. Louis,Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 3, 1940, Serial No.350,951

3 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to orthopedic devices, andparticularly to a foot support and corrective device which isconstructed and arranged so as to be susceptible of variation in theamount of, and the position of, adjustment which is thereby provided forthe foot.

While efforts have been made to provide stock orthopedic devices in suchform that they may be varied as to the amount of adjustment, heretoforeit has not been practical to vary the position of auxiliary adjustmentmembers thereon.

While the custom built orthopedic appliances are 'manufacturedespecially for a given foot, and consequently when properly manufacturedsuit the needs of that foot, it is recognized, of course, that thecustom building of such devices is not only an expensive and slowprocedure, but such devices do not admit of varying the amount of, orposition of the adjustment thereby provided as the foot condition isprogressively corrected. i

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide anorthopedic device so constructed and arranged that the adjustmentthereby provided for the foot may be varied both as to amount and as toposition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachmentwhich may be conveniently and effectively arranged upon the base memberof an orthopedic device in accordance with the need of the foot beingfitted.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when thefollowing description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an orthopedic appliance provided withattachments for varying the adjustment thereof, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Figure l, with thelift parts of the adjusting attachments removed.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective View showing an adjusting attachment,including a lift and an attaching member constructed in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a lift member shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of another lift member.

Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken along line 'l-'I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional View, taken along line 8 8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is an end view of an adjusting attachment constructed inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, generally stated, a basemember which may be an orthopedic appliance itself, or which may be asock liner or insole of the shoe, is provided so as to receive anad-justing pad, cushion or lift. The present invention especiallycontemplates that the adjusting pad, cushion or lift be arrangedin suchmanner that its position upon the base member may be changed so as toadapt the device to the peculiarities of each foot being fitted, and soas to permit of changes in the position of the `adjustment as correctionof the foot progresses.

A particular feature of the present invention resides in the provisionof an adjustment assembly arranged to be applied to a suitable basemember, such as an orthopedic device, or a sock liner, in a positiondictated by the condition of the foot being treated.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive of the drawing, abase member in the form of an orthopedic device is shown, comprising asponge rubber member l provided with a top cover 2. An attaching plate 3is secured, as by adhesive, to the bottom of sponge rubber member 2, ina position dictated by the condition of the foot being treated. Theattaching plate 3 is preferably made of a material such as light metalor Celluloid, which, though possessed of some flexibility, issuiiciently stiff to distribute centralized pressures applied theretoover a wide area, and thus avoid the possibility that centralizedpressures applied on the bott-om of plate 3 will be conveyed ascentralized pressures to the foot thereabove. The attaching plate 3 mayadvantageously be made of phosphor-bronze.

In the embodiment shown, the plate 3 is provided with a series of snapfasteners 4, the maleV members of which are connected in the usualmanner to plate 3.

The attaching plate 3 is, in the embodiment shown, arranged upon thebase member in a position such as to receive a metatarsal support.

For supporting the longitudinal arch of the foot, a similar constructionmay be employed; but in the embodiment illustrated, an attaching plate5, formed of light metal, Celluloid, or

other plastic having some exibility, but sufficient stiffness todistribute centralized forces, is attached by means of adhesive orotherwise at a position shown in Figure 2. The attaching plate 5 islikewise provided with a plurality of snap fasteners 6.

The snap fasteners 4 on attaching plate 3 are arranged to connect withcompanion fastener parts on a metatarsal support '1, and the snapfasteners 6 on plate 5 are arranged to connect with companion snapfasteners on a longitudinal arch support 8. The lift members 'l and 8may be of any suitable form and construction, but in the embodimentshown in the "fastener drawing, each consists of a layer of spongerubber having at least one surface thereof skived, and the oppositesurface provided with a suitable covering.

The adjusting 4assembly employed vin vconnection with the orthopedicdevices shown in Figures 1 and 2 is, in accordance with the presentinvention, prepared for marketing as annit 'con-Y sisting of a lift, anattachingplate having aA layer of adhesive on the side'opposite thelift,

and a cover layer for the adhesive. Y. Y

For example, in Figures 3 and 8,V the metatarsal adjustment, consistingof lift v'I, .attaching plate 3, and adhesive cover 9, partly removed isshown. The lift 1 is provided, onV its upper vsurface,vvvithfa' 'plateall) which .may -be z of metal, Celluloid leather; :or:similar'imaterial :suitable :for :receiving and -retaining the femaleparts ,of snap fasteners I:I,. :The Agplate 4II'I :may :be'connectecl'io the `ilicidy portion of :the .lit member `by adhesive prrotherwise, as desired. The surfacernf attachingiplate T4, to ;besecuredlto theV surface .of :the :orthopedic appliance, ,is .provi'dediwithiafilmy of adhesive *I2Y of aacharV :actersuchas itoxretain its tackinessso long `as Vit iis `concealedY and iprotected* from theY atmosphere.For example, the adhesives describedin ReissueLPatent No..1'9,I28Aarefadmirably adapted 1for =use in'zthis :connection AAA variety of:-speciiic fadhesivesof this sgene'ral type is available, the mostgenerally employed being fcnmposed @of rubber, resin' 1 and zzincfoxide. When 'attaching plate 3 is formed of metal,";it:fis'preferableto 'apply-some preliminaryitreatment tofthefsurace 'o'f `the metalinorder to better :adapt it'to'ire-` tainjlthe adhesive. For example,the rsurface :of them'etal -plate 3 maybe treated :with :so-calledvliquid 'latemwhich .consistsV yof raw rubber and ammonia, VAny suitableladhesive composition lvi'ihieh-vvill `adhere'to ithessurfa'ceof plate 3and ywhich will retain its tackinessA l'for Aextended. pe-` fridds Ipftime, if covered, conned, `or .otherwise protected ffrom the action of"the gatmosphere, may 0f l course tbe employed Sin llieu of thecompositic'msfj'us'trefeijredito. Y

`In-or`derl-topermitthe ready `removal of cover 9, yWhich"protects theflm of adhesive ifl2', the co'ver 9 may Lbeprovidedvliith a tab 'Il3,sothat it may Ybe 'readily gripped and fpeeled off 'the adhesiveiilmI'2. I l

VAIn fthe construction vofthe adjusting attachmentsof the -presentinvention, {and particularly whererfsnap iastenershaving male Aandfemale members are employed for connecting theflift jpart 4to `theattaching plate, -it will be observed that in each instance A'aplurality cf separable "ise'mployed von "both the "lift memfoerand,the"attaching member. The provisi'qng'gf japlurality'lof separableia-stener parts onea'ch fof the members permits of adjustmentlongitudinally o'f'the -vorthopedic device, Without p ermittingmtation'o'f the lift member about fa separable fastener jasan ax-is. A

`AInf'the-lift member shown in VFigures 56 and"7, a'sporjge 'rulber bodyportion I4 is'providedwith aflxible 'cov'er I5 of "leather 4or `thelikematerial. `l'tiveted in the conventional manner through leather coverI5, `before its :application tfth sponge rubber' bodyportion I4, isfaipair fffemale separable'astener parts ILE, :adapted foryconnectionfwiih male parts 6.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the separable fasteners andattaching plate are dispensed With, and the lift there shown consists"ftainingfitsttackiness so long as it is conned or zic;

Vjcover 'I9 'of .paper or other suitable protective protected from theatmosphere. In order to protect the "tackiness of the adhesive lm I8, a

is provided; and as in the case of the embodiments `'shown-.in'igures 3and 8, the cover may be v.provided with a gripping tab 20, in order tofacilitate its removal. In the employment of the lift shown in Figure:9, the paper :cover I 9 is removedirom the adhesive i-iilm XML: andth'elift applied 4in theapgprdpriate :positionfguponsa hase member, :beingSsecured theretoy by means ,of theiadhesivelmgl. f A- Due to the natureof '.theA adhesive employed, which .as pointed fout; hereinbeforeiscapable of retaining itsgtackiness soxlong Aas:itfis;.prni'lected fromthe atmosphere, vfit will Vibe freadily. appreciated that,iaszcorrection of fthe footcondition progresses, `the' -lift--I -1' maybe removed .from ithe base member .to Whichit is :attached and ireplacedthereon'in an appropriate;position,:.since when implanted upon anotherorthopedic devicesor-aesock liner as 'a base member, the base memberitself :serves .to protect the ,-iilm of radhesive vI8Y -from :losing:its .tackiness. x From the #foregoing description, lit is apparent thatthe invention accomplishes itssobjectsgand that wthe'operationthereof:will ybe `readilylfapparent to those skilled in the art. j

While the invention: has :been particularlyiescribed with reference tto`f ootiadjustment adapted for employment :atfth'emetatarsal :regionzandthe longitudinal arch r"region :of :the .foot,':it to beunderstoodthatthefinveritionisapplicable also to Vadjustments `appliedat :other sections :of the ioot. 'Itis :apparent that imany cmodications land 'rearrangements 'o'f #the parts ihereinbefore disclosedwillpresent themselves to "those skilled in the artfwithout departingfromz'the spirit oi this invention; and'itiis'atherefoizeito bedistinctly Yunderstood :that the vinvention lvis not .limited to thedetails /of thefore'goingzdisclosure, except as indicated bythe appendedclaims.

Having thus described the in'vention, fwhat is claimediis:

l. An attachment .for aorthopedic yappliances, comprising, an:attachment v,plate rhavng .a fcoating of'tackyadhesive thereon, a lift,a separable fastener having ione 'partaon said plate, Landes,counterparton Vsaid lift.

2. An attachment` for orthopedic appliances, comprising, A.an attachmentufplate :having :la lcoating iofrtackyiadhesive thereon, gallift, faseparable fastener having tone 'part on :said lplate a counterpart onsaid lift, and a removable zscever for said adhes'ive.

3. An attachment for orthopedc'fapplianlces, comprising, an attachmentplate ,havingy a. fcoating of tacky adhesive thereon, a lift, a.plurality of separable fasteners lhaving :all their corresponding partson said plate, and fall @their counterparts on said lift.

WILFRED .J BOOS.

